A pilot project at Seton Collegiate Church means visitors can now get a clearer idea of what the historic building was like in its heyday. Information panels have been installed to explain the past uses of some of the fascinating Medieval carved and moulded stones on display in the church. Among them are surviving fragments of window tracery and water spouts which were important features of the church before it fell into ruin. There are also funerary items, like tomb slabs.

Scotland's First Firearms Demonstrated During Weekend of Medieval Pageantry

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Specially-made replicas of the first type of firearms to be used in Scotland will be fired as part of Party at the Palace 1503. Hugh Robertson, from Kilmarnock, who runs the Fire and Sword re-enactment group, will show visitors how the early matchlock muskets worked during the two day event at Linlithgow Palace on 23 and 24 May. Mr Robertson, will also be taking on the role of George, Master of Angus, one of the leading noblemen in the Scottish court.

The second annual Festival of the River at Stanley Mills will be opened by special guest, the Scottish Government Finance Minister John Swinney. The North Tayside MSP said he is delighted to be taking part in the community festival which takes place between noon and 4pm on Sunday, 17 May. Visitors will also be able to enjoy free entry to Historic Scotland’s Stanley Mills visitor centre which is housed in the 18th-century water mill complex beside the river.

Couple Follow Medieval Marriage with Horseback Role in Spectacular Pageant

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Dan Moriarty and Madelaine Nelson will marry in Medieval style the weekend before taking part in a huge pageant recalling a great Renaissance royal wedding. The couple are costumed performers in the Fire and Sword historical re-enactment group. This month they will tie the knot dressed in Medieval fashions – including full armour for Dan – at a ceremony near their home, in Montgreenan, Kilwinning.

Scotland’s rich legacy of historic buildings, monuments and archaeology contributes more than Â£2.3 billion to the Scottish economy and is a key factor in ensuring sustained economic growth, according to research published today (Monday). A new report from the Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland (HEACS) shows Scotland’s historic environment has a vital role in supporting jobs and promoting tourism. Culture Minister Michael Russell welcomed the research, saying: “For the first time we have clear evidence of just how much our historic environment contributes, not only to our sense of identity and place, but also to our national economy."